The synagogue’s Tzedakah Havurah recently distributed more than $4,000 in charitable funds to 16 human service and social service organizations locally and globally.
In his annual fiscal year accounting at the end of July to the congregation, David Gantz, chair of the Tzedakah Havurah, said Tikvat Israel collected $3,984.10 from charitable giving, the vast majority from individuals’ donations at morning and evening minyanim ($3,392.60) since last August. The other source was Purim canisters ($591.50).
The committee recently allocated $4,050, leaving $122 in the account to begin the 2015-16 tzedakah year.
This year’s beneficiaries, selected by members of the havurah, were as follows: Mazon, Project Hope, Israel Free Loan Association, Manna Food Bank, Shepherd’s Table, Save a Child’s Heart, SmileTrain, Alyn Hospital in Israel, American Jewish World Service, Stepping Stones Shelter, Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, The Polaris Project (combats human trafficking), Washington Area Fuel Fund, Rockville Emergency Assistance Program, Jerusalem Foundation’s support of Helena Kagan Youth Center and Shutaf (a Jerusalem-based children’s special-needs camp).
Anyone interested in joining the group can contact Gantz. Other committee members are Hope Kott, Dan Jacobs, Robbi Cohen, Elyse Bernstein and Kate Jennes-Kahn.
